Lost Dad: Dan Smith

Thirty Five: Sushi and Mean Girls

UGH. I had written this chapter and it actually didn't save. I'm sorry if in this AU, the show you went to doesn't exist. 

Dan POV:

"I think your guitar skills are really good." I say. It sounds genuine. 

"Lies..." she mutters, rolling her eyes. I see a partition in her chunk of bracelets. I catch a glimpse of two of the cuts, which look fairly new. What shocks me, is a small collection of old ones, obviously multiple years old. 

"Laura..?" I ask. She looks at me with a confused, as well as suspicious look on her face. 

"Yeah?" She asks. 

"Can I see your wrist again." I ask kindly. 

"There's no bandage covering it..." She warns. 

"Exactly." I say, trying not to sound creepy. She gives me  a slight uncomfortable look. 

"Is that a yes or a no?" I ask, not wanting to alarm her. 

"Sure, I guess..." She slides me her wrist, yanking off 8 or 9 wristbands, causing them to fly across the counter of the bar top we're sitting on. She lets out a slightly annoyed sigh as she holds her wrist out. I wrap my hand around her smaller one, pulling it closer. She grips my hand as well to where I can feel her fingers shake. I see four recent ones on her wrist, already partially healed. 

"Why four?" I ask. Stupid question. 

"My logic is stupid, but I sometimes feel like a half-person with certain memories. You typically count music in eights, and music is basically my life. Half of eight is four." She says quickly. I notice her stutter when she talks fast. I don't reply, but I count the old ones. 12 old ones and 4 new ones. That means, if her logic still applies, thats four times she's felt worthless. I loosen my grip on her hand, inviting her to let go if she wants to. She slowly pulls her hand away. 

"Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?" I ask her, trying to change the subject. 

"That sounds great!" She says. I've assumed she didn't ever really go out much before she came to stay with me. 

"There's an italian place down the street or..." I get cut off by my phone. Ugh, its Dick. 

"One second." I say. 

"Hey, Dick, what's going on?" I ask, getting up from my stool.

"Thanks for tweeting about Laura. A vast majority seems to love her." He says.

"Oh, um. I guess that's good." I say, pacing around the house. 

"What are you going to do with her when you guys get back on tour?" Dick asks.

I lower my voice and exit to the other room so Laura doesn't know I'm talking about her. "She'll be gone before then." I reply. 

"Good. Not to sound rude, but having a kid around while trying to get shit done isn't exactly the most convenient thing." He tells me. Rude.

"I totally understand." I say, pacing around my bathroom for no reason.

"Crud. My mum's calling. I need to go." Dick says.

"Alright, have a good evening, Dick."

"Bye."

"Buh-bye."

I walk back into the kitchen, where Laura is texting (probably in her old group chat). 

"As I was saying," I start, getting her attention, "Theres a really good Italian place, but theres also a nice sushi place within walking distance." I say.